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Former Republican Governor Gary Johnson, now the Libertarian Party presidential nominee.
Photo: AP Wire Image
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by Alan McBride
TAMPA, FLA. -- Libertarian Presidential candidate Gary Johnson visited Tampa as part of 4-day campaign tour in Florida.
Johnson, former two-term New Mexico governor, met with voters, promoting his campaign message of "Live Free."
The message is one that has not changed since the founding of the Libertarian Party, and Johnson carries the torch with a fierce sense of determination.
Johnson spoke about how this nation needs to do more than give lip service to the concepts of freedom and smaller government.
It's a familiar message, but Johnson's track record gives him the power of credibility in its delivery.
During his eight years as governor, Johnson vetoed more spending bills than the other 49 governors combined, earning him the nickname "Governor Veto."
He left New Mexico with a $1 billion budget surplus, and his policies resulted in an 11.3 percent increase in private sector jobs.
Johnson is also recognized for his strong record in defense of civil liberties, earning the highest ranking from the ACLU of all Presidential candidates.
During Johnson's Florida visit, he noted that this nation is on the verge of "losing it all," both in civil and fiscal terms; and he said neither Barack Obama nor Mitt Romney appeared the least bit interested in turning the tide.
In fact, Johnson said that the campaign rhetoric from both the major parties seemed to indicate an acceleration toward a national plunge over the proverbial cliff.
Johnson is polling in the low numbers, with roughly 9 percent support as he struggles for name recognition as a key player in this race.
But more people appear to be hearing him, as his numbers have shown a trend toward edging up.
One thing that is working in his favor is the general frustration voters have with both parties.
It has reached levels where more voters are tuning out the rhetoric from democrats and republicans alike.
That could create a situation where people are more inclined to pay attention to someone who is speaking from the third party perspective.
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